Playing one of the league’s top teams tonight, Hornets General Manager/Coach Jeff Bower said they have to come out with an aggressive mindset against the Phoenix Suns at the New Orleans Arena.

In Byron Scott’s final game before he was fired last week, the Suns routed the Hornets 124-104. The Suns and the Atlanta Hawks are tied with having the best record in the league at 10-2. The Hornets play the Hawks this Saturday at the Arena.

"We’re looking to move, attack and keep the floor spreaded,’’ Bower said during the team's shootaround practice this morning. “We have a transition defensive scheme that we’ve been working on for the last few days, where guys have roles and responsibilities as for getting back.’’

The Suns are the league’s second-highest scoring team, averaging 111.3 points per game. Forward Amar’e Stoudemire leads the team with a 19.5 scoring average, while point guard Steve Nash is second at 17.2.

In other news, backup center Hilton Armstrong, who missed Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a sprained right shoulder, is expected to be available tonight, Bower said.

Armstrong practiced Wednesday and participated in Thursday';s shootaround. He suffered the shoulder injury near the end of practice on Monday. Though he appears to be recovered, Bower did not rule out the possibility Armstrong could be placed on the inactive list.

Still wearing an immobilized boot on his left foot, point guard Chris Paul watched Thursday's shootaround from the scorers' table. Paul is sidelined indefinitely with a left ankle sprain.